Hello!
I'm a heart exploration coach. Learning is the body's treasure.
From your description, I can feel your pain and confusion.
I won't go into why you get nervous around the opposite sex. I'll help you understand why.
You're confused about being nervous and scared of boys other than your relatives. You don't feel like you've ever been hurt by the opposite sex.
What happened during that time? Thinking back may help.
It may not have hurt you. Did you see a girl being hurt by a boy and think of yourself and fear the opposite sex?
Second, you said you've been thinking about it for a long time. You feel you don't dislike the opposite sex and want to be friends with them. So, are you nervous around them, worrying you don't perform well and they won't want to be friends?
You're afraid that when you see the opposite sex being nervous, you'll be seen as not good enough. You may not be confident in your appearance.
You feel more natural chatting with girls you know. But you are especially nervous around the opposite sex. Could it be that you are not good at chatting with the opposite sex you don't know?
You don't know what to talk about with the opposite sex and worry about awkward situations. You worry before you've even met them and get nervous when you see them.
This is my analysis.
To get out of this state, try this:
Tell yourself you're different from girls who've been hurt by boys. The men you meet are different from those they meet. This kind of thinking may make you feel better.
If you're not confident in your appearance, focus on your good qualities. Everyone has them. Learn to see yourself as a developing person. You have time to improve. Believe in yourself. You are worthy of love.
If you're not good at chatting with the opposite sex, look at girls who are good at it and learn from them. Read some books on communication to help you talk to the opposite sex.
After thinking things through and learning, you can try desensitization to gradually approach boys you don't know well but trust. First, walk with the opposite sex. After you can accept that, walk or stand next to them. After you feel safe, make eye contact. After you get used to this, talk to them briefly. If you approach in this way, you will probably become friends.
If you have found other reasons, they can be resolved through rational thinking, a developmental perspective, and systematic desensitization. See the power of yourself and time.
I hope this helps. Click "Find a coach to interpret – online dialogue" at the bottom to talk to me one-on-one.


Comments
This does sound like a challenging situation to be in. I think it's important to acknowledge your feelings and understand that it's okay to feel this way. Maybe you could try to gradually expose yourself to social situations with boys in a controlled and safe environment, which might help you become more comfortable over time.
It doesn't sound strange at all; many people experience social anxiety in different ways. It's great that you're open to wanting to change and have the desire to make friends with the opposite sex. Sometimes, just knowing that you want to improve can be the first step towards overcoming these nervous feelings.
I admire your selfawareness and willingness to reflect on your behavior. It's not unusual for people to have varying comfort levels in different social settings. Perhaps talking to a counselor or therapist could provide you with strategies to manage your anxiety and build confidence in social interactions with boys.
Feeling this way isn't strange, and it's good that you've opened up to someone about it. Social anxiety can be complex, but it's reassuring that you don't dislike the opposite sex and wish to connect with them. Building up your confidence slowly, maybe by starting conversations with boys in smaller, less intimidating settings, could be beneficial.
It's completely normal to have moments where you feel uncertain or anxious. The fact that you can be yourself around girls shows that you have strong social skills. You might find it helpful to join activities or clubs where you can meet boys who share similar interests, which could ease the process of making new friends and reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.